KUWAIT CITY, Feb 14 : The 15th International Invention Fair in the Middle East (IIFME) will kick off in Kuwait on Sunday under the patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. The Kuwait Science Club (KSC) will organize the fair, during the period February 16-19 under the theme “Connecting Investors with Inventors”, in collaboration with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Science Club and head of fair’s organizing committee Talal Al-Kharafireferred to a remarkable increase in the number of participants. In this year’s edition 180 inventors, from 42 countries, are taking part in the fair with 230 inventions across various scientific fields, he said, noting that Ecuador and Nigeria are participating for the first time.

Al-Kharafi unveiled that the Arab League, for the first time, is providing five financial awards in this fair. This unprecedented level of support comes in line with the directives of Arab leaders to promote innovation, inventions, and scientific research, he argued. Al-Kharafi stated that the fair offers prizes exceeding USD 60,000 to winning inventors. He further noted that several leading international organizations specializing in inventions have been keen to participate in the exhibition since its inception in 2007. Al-Kharafidisclosed that 28 Kuwaiti inventors are participating this year with 17 inventions spanning various scientific realms. He stated that the organizing committee has approved online participation in the fair for the first time, allowing participants to submit their inventions via the official online platform without the need to attend physically, thus broadening accessibility for international inventors. Al-Kharafi emphasized that hosting such a prestigious international event in Kuwait is a source of great pride, particularly as it is organized entirely by a team of dedicated Kuwaiti volunteers who are committed to serving their country. He boasted that the fair has been ranked the leading event of its kind in the Middle East, attributing this success to the high level of professionalism in its organization. He expressed his deep gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled

Al-Hamad Al- Sabah for their unwavering support for scientific advancement and youth innovation. Al-Kharafithanked the ministries of interior, foreign affairs, and social affairs for facilitating the participation of international delegates and representatives from research institutions and scientific organizations. For his part, Chairman of the Judging Committee David Farouki said Kuwait has become a leading nation in fostering innovation and invention on a global scale. He noted that the event has witnessed remarkable growth over the past 15 years, making it a focal point for many specialized international organizations. (KUNA)